Consumers welcome Commission preliminary findings against Google and decisions on Apple’s obligations to make its phones and tablets work with other devices

The European Consumer Organisation BEUC, defending the interests of consumers in 31 European countries, welcomes the European Commission’s 19 March 2025 decisions detailing Apple’s legally binding interoperability obligations and its preliminary findings that Alphabet (Google) is breaching the Digital Markets Act.

The Commission has published its preliminary view that Alphabet (Google) is breaching Digital Markets Act obligations by preventing app developers from freely steering consumers to other channels for better offers. The Commission has also taken the view that Google Search treats other Google services, such as comparison shopping or hotel booking services, more favourably than services by its competitors, which is contrary to the Digital Markets Act.

Regarding Apple, the Commission specification decisions set out what Apple must do to ensure that devices such as smartwatches, headphones and virtual reality headsets made by other manufacturers and software services can function seamlessly with Apple smartphones and tablets using Apple’s proprietary operating systems iOS and iPadOS.

BEUC Director General Agustín Reyna commented: “It is excellent news that the Commission is taking action against Google for potentially breaking the law. This is something we suspected last year already and Google’s actions may have prevented consumers from accessing better offers outside its own services.

“The Commission’s decisions about how Apple devices should work with devices and services from other companies are also good news for consumers. The decisions should open up more opportunities and choice for consumers by making it easier to connect a non-Apple headset or watch with an iPhone, for example. For too long, Apple has operated a walled garden around its products and prevented interoperability. It is important the Commission makes sure Apple complies with these decisions.”

The Commission decisions are based on the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) that imposes legally binding obligations on companies defined by the Commission to be internet service “gatekeepers” as of 7 March 2024.